News

ISASS signed on to an AMA letter to Congress urging intervention to reform and refocus the electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use program. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) established incentive payments to eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, critical access hospitals and Medicare Advantage Organizations to promote the adoption and meaningful use of interoperable health information technology and qualified electronic health records. The State 1 final rule (2011-2012) set the foundation for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs by establishing requirements for the electronic capture of clinical data, including providing patients with electronic copies of their health information. The Stage 2 final rule (2014) expanded upon the Stage 1 criteria and encouraged use of health information technology […]

News and noteworthy information for October: Medicare Administrative Contractor News GAO appoints HHS Advisory Committee on Physician Payment Models Developing New Physician Payment Models: Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model—A Preview of What’s to Come in Spine Request for Information on New Provisions of MACRA Physician Compare Preview Period Informal Review Request Period for the 2016 Value Modifier Physician Quality Reporting System Payment Adjustment and Informal Review Process CMS Issues Final Electronic Health Record Rules Budget Agreement Reached Between Congressional Leaders and Administration President Obama Announces Joint Effort to Combat Opioid Abuse 2016 Final Physician Fee Schedule & Hospital Outpatient and ASC Final Rule   Medicare Administrative Contractor News NGS Medicare – Draft LCD for MIS SIJ Fusion (DL36406) CGS […]

ISASS signed on to an AMA letter to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) regarding updates to the Network Adequacy Model Act. NAIC is the standard-setting and regulatory support organization in the United States created and governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, Washington D.C. and five U.S. territories. NAIC is currently working to update its 1996 Network Adequacy Model Act which is used as a template to draft/update state statutes that regulate the insurance industry. The letter touches upon three areas of concern and presents corresponding recommendations to strengthen patient protections in the Model Act: 1. require prior approval of networks before health plans are sold; 2. require states to institute measurable quantitative standards for network adequacy; and 3. include stronger protections for tiered networks. Letter to NAIC […]

News and noteworthy information for September: New FDA Commissioner Nominated FDA Establishes Patient Engagement Advisory Committee on Medical Devices ICD-10 News Medicare Administrative Contractor News Physician Quality Reporting System Payment Adjustment and Informal Review Process Physician Compare Preview Period for Reported Quality Measures AMA Develops Resources for Evaluating and Understanding New Payment Model Commercial Payer Contracts   New FDA Commissioner Nominated On September 15, President Obama nominated Dr. Robert Califf as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Margaret Hamburg resigned as FDA Commissioner in March of this year; since that time, Stephen Ostroff, previously the FDA’s chief scientist, has served as Interim Commissioner. Dr. Califf currently serves as the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco, a […]